“These wreaths add a little elegance and uniqueness to a gift and, rather than being recycled with the rest of the Christmas wrapping, they can be hung on a window or door”
Materials
One plant vine, the circumference you want your wreath to be
1 piece of clematis vine, 50cm in length, for the wreath base
5 stems of dried heather or lavender
Secateurs
Twine
Scissors
To make a basic wreath, begin by binding the vine into the size you want the wreath to be, then start to weave the vine around itself once or twice to form a rough circle shape.
Using twine, tie the vine together tightly at three or four points around the circle. Weave in the end to conceal it and stop it from poking out, then snip off any excess twine.
Cut the pieces of dried heather or other dried flowers into lengths of 10-12.5cm.
Starting on one side and working clockwise, feed the stems through the wreath structure – this should be tight enough to keep them in place.
Cut off any excess foliage from the back of the wreath that may be visible from the front when it is lying flat.
Using a piece of twine, weave it in and out of the wreath and around the wrapped gift.
“If you have a large space, such as a plain wall or landing, you could hang groups of wreaths together as festive party decorations”
Materials
1 clematis vine, 60cm in length, for the wreath base
3 wild nigella pods
4 small branches of cedar
4 branches of olive
Twine
Florist scissors
Floral spraypaint in bronze or copper
2 x 1.5m pieces of thinly cut linen
Metallic bronze ribbon, 1m in length
First use a vine base to create a basic wreath as described above.
Tie the materials onto the wreath base using twine. The wreath should have a basic flow – this usually means that one side of the wreath is heavier with flowers and foliage than the other.
For extra sparkle, lightly spray the flat pine with bronze or copper spraypaint.
Once you are happy with the coverage you have, attach lengths of twine or strips of linen to your wreath to hang. It can be suspended from an existing beam or hung from hooks or screws in the ceiling or walls.
Once hung, finish the wreath with a length of bronze ribbon.
Editor: Heather Taylor / Photographer: Kristin Peres / Stylists: Katie Smyth and Terri Chandler